Subscribe to our blog RSS Feed

Triathlon Cycle Training

Wed, 09 May 2012 12:45:23 +0100

The bike leg comes in the middle of a triathlon and is generally the bit people look forward to most. There is none of the stress of getting dunked during the swim or the worry about completing the run - just jump on the bike and you’ll be off and running before you know it – what could be easier?

Look hot with your kit off.

Fri, 04 May 2012 13:32:25 +0100

The warm weather’s coming, which means it’s time to dust off the speedos or dig out the two-piece. For a lot of us though, the winter months have done little for our movie-star bods. Luckily, we’ve got a few tricks up our sleeve to get you looking more McConaughey and less McDonalds this summer.

VA Wearside host the National Premier League Finals

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 11:14:54 +0100

Last weekend was an exciting one at Virgin Active Wearside Health and Racquets club where we played host to the National Premier League Tennis finals that showcased talent from across the country.

Put it away – it’s gone 12 o’clock.

Sun, 01 Apr 2012 08:52:00 +0100

OK, we admit our nude “Freedom Fitness” classes weren’t entirely serious (check the date). But no matter what Dr Paolo Firl says, Virgin Active Health Clubs are the most fun you can have with your clothes on. Missed the joke - read it here.

Fitting Triathlon Training into Real Life

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 16:19:00 Z

If you are in full time employment the idea of training for a triathlon can be a bit daunting. Swimming, biking, running, recovering, eating, sleeping and buying all the equipment you need can sometimes feel like a full time job in itself! Add family and children into the mix and there don’t seem to be enough hours in the day to keep everyone happy.

Why should mums only get one day a year?

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 18:08:16 Z

So we get a single, measly day a year when the focus is supposed to be on us and mums across the nation are supposed to be grateful? Whoopee.

Get your socks off

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 09:23:43 Z

Throw off your trainers. Shed your socks. Expose your toes. Find out how exercising barefoot can give you a workout with a real kick.

Love Handles

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 10:17:08 Z

Ahhhh Valentine’s Day. Romantic dinners, champagne (and some…um…bedroom workouts). An average session in the bedroom burns between 50-100 calories - but it’s going to take a whole lot more then that to shift those love handles (or should we say loathe handles?)

The Tracks That Get You Going

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:15:47 Z

We asked our Twitter followers to tweet us the tunes they pump through their headphones while they’re working up a sweat. What gets them going on the treadmill? What helps them shift that leg press? What gets them all Zen when they’re having a warm down stretch?

Runners and their bums

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 13:17:18 Z

Ever wondered what buttocks are for? The answer is: helping you run.

Better Resolutions

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:43:03 Z

We’ve all heard the usual suspects – lose some weight, walk to work, drink less, stop smoking. All noble causes but sometimes it’s worth getting a little more creative.

Get your angles on

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 15:01:38 Z

This is a yoga pose with millions of benefits. Well, quite a few.

Release your inner warrior!

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 16:03:40 Z

This one’s for all you yogi's with an inner warrior.

Zumba Man

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:10:05 Z

If you haven’t heard of Zumba you must have been living in a cave for the last year. Zumbamania has fully got a grip on the globe lately and here at Virgin Active we’re big fans. We tracked down the man behind the craze, Beto Perez, to ask him some questions.

127 miles – Dean Zweck’s cycling adventure

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 11:42:15 Z

He made it. Find out how our Northern Innovations Trainer, Dean Zweck, survived cycling the Leeds – Liverpool canal through rain, punctures and some very dodgy brakes.

Taking on a World Record

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 11:10:34 Z

On 5th December, 255 Virgin Active health clubs and around the world pedalled in unison to take on a world record. At 6pm UK time around 7000 Virgin Active members got up on their static bikes in the UK, Australia, South Africa, Portugal, Spain and Italy.

Red Carpet Posture

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 12:29:49 Z

How to stand out amongst the stars (because everyone goes to the odd movie premiere - right?)

Win with Alvin!

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 11:57:32 Z

All aboard for some prize-winning fun with Alvin & The Chipmunks!

We’re celebrating the release of Alvin & The Chipmunks: Chipwrecked, in cinemas December 16th with some brilliant Club-V chipmunk-y business.

Virgin Active Virgins

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:26:28 Z

Being a newbie at a health club can be a little daunting. So for all you Virgin Active virgins out there, we’ve gathered the advice of our Facebook and Twitter followers to help you out.

Doggy Style

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 14:27:05 Z

Ever tried a downward facing dog? Any idea what we’re on about?

BMX Superstar

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 12:07:30 Z

You never know where your Virgin Active membership will take you. For Kim Bent from our Sheffield club it's all the way to the BMX World Championships.

Music to make you faster, better, stronger

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:03:25 Z

You probably agree with the theory: music fuels your workout. Get your tunes wrong and you’ll run out of steam faster than an empty kettle. It just seems to make sense.

Katy Perry gets sweaty with Jamie Foxx

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 12:05:46 Z

Ok, that might be an ever-so-slightly misleading headline. We wanted to get the skinny on what the celebs listen to when they workout. Here it is.

Taking on the marathon? Our tips

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 09:16:56 Z

For all you brave London Marathoners, it’s time to start a winter full of training. Here are our top 10 tips.

Rock your body

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:57:00 Z

Too much of the same is never a good thing. Even lemon sherberts. The same applies to your workout playlist.

Jack Stovin’s weight room discs

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 14:53:01 Z

Make the most out of your weight workout with our guide to the best music to motivate you.

Adam's Mountain Marathon

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 16:26:00 Z

Meet Adam Stevens: Mountain marathon man and Virgin Active hero. Adam went from being a fitness-phobic, 20-a-day smoker to taking on a seven peak, three mountains trek in North Wales. All because a colleague muttered “I won’t even bother asking YOU”.

Water Babies

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 14:09:53 Z

Anyone who’s ever donned a pair of goggles knows that swimming is great exercise, but its benefits for kids go way beyond that. We’ve asked our swim managers from around the country to tell us why kids should get in the pool…

Run the Virgin London Marathon for Sparks

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 12:26:38 Z

If you have managed to secure a ballot place running the London Marathon next year, we’d love you to come and run for our charity partner Sparks.

If you can’t stand the heat – get into the water!

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 12:01:25 +0100

Aqua Zumba is more like a pool party than a fitness class. It’s exciting, it’s loud and it’s guaranteed to leave you feeling completely exhilarated. Oh. And it’s an amazing full-body workout too.

Music on the Move

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 11:38:00 +0100

We’ve been scouring attics and garages for the best in portable music through the ages. Check out these bad boys…

Top 5 Dance Scenes from Movies

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 11:33:00 +0100

Ahhhh the tear jerkers, the teen angst, the big hair, the ill advised stone washed jeans. You just can’t beat a good dance movie. Here are our top 5:

Oh the Shuffle Roulette Shame

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 11:30:00 +0100

We all have embarrassing songs on our iPod that always creep up when we’re least expecting it. We asked our Twitter follows about their shuffle roulette shame. Here are our top five. There are some real stinkers …

The hottest workout gear

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 17:31:00 +0100

We can’t help but feel like today’s gym kit is a little bit too functional and sensible. Why wear a tastefully flattering pair of stretchy leggings and a sports top with built-in support when you can wear a high-legged, hot pink leotard that gives you wedgie so bad you get a headache?

Bring Matt home

Fri, 19 Aug 2011 18:01:00 +0100

Mathew Taylor is a close friend of Martin Shardlow, the Club V Manager at our Manchester Didsbury Club. Mathew has been living in Bali teaching English for the past two years. Last month he was involved in a serious motorcycle accident which has left him in a coma in a Singapore hospital.

Top Dance Crazes

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 17:11:00 +0100

Have you ever crunked until your hips hurt? Or waacked away your bingo wings? Or vogued like Queen Madge herself? Any idea what we’re talking about?

It’s all about the music

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 17:03:00 +0100

Music is a vital part of any fitness program. It motivates, it focuses, and it can even make you stronger. If you get bored with what’s on your headphones your workout can go stale but if you can get the right music in your playlist you can bring a new dimension to your workout.

London Tri

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 12:19:00 +0100

Come and have a go if you think you’re hard enough

Secret London Guide to the London Triathlon

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 16:54:00 +0100

The Virgin Active London Triathlon 2011 is almost upon us, and with thousands of spectators due to come and support our athletes we thought it’d be a great idea to team up with Secret London to create a course guide to this years London Triathlon.

Record Breaking Triple Tandem Event

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 12:22:00 +0100

Paul Barton, Michael Turton and James Barton - known as SaddleRow – hope to complete the 1000-mile route in less than eight days, beating the previous ‘triple tandem’ record of 10 days. They are raising money for the Reece Jeffrey Foundation to fund heart defect testing for children and teenagers.

Father and Sons

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 12:39:00 +0100

It’s pretty unique to find an activity that brings the family together at the same time as improving your health. For the majority of families it’s a large meal that provides the centre point, but not for the Sullivans.

Virgin Active and British No 1 Elena Baltacha team up for Wimbledon

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 15:39:00 +0100

This month, Virgin Active announced that we would partner with British number one Elena Baltacha during the Wimbledon Championship. At Virgin Active we are keen to help make tennis accessible to everyone. Wouldn’t it be great if one day one of our junior members represented Great Britain at tennis and maybe even took the Wimbledon crown?

The Virgin Active London Triathlon

Tue, 07 Jun 2011 15:36:00 +0100

In just eight weeks, thousands of brave individuals will be taking the plunge into the Thames. Yes, the Virgin Active London Triathlon is nearly here and we’re very excited about it. Between then and now, we’ll be immersing ourselves in all things Tri right here on the blog.

An Inspirational Story of Oomph from a Mum of Three

Mon, 06 Jun 2011 15:29:00 +0100

It’s not always easy fitting sport and training into your life at the best of times. But what happens when you start a family? Kelly Van Der Toorn, the 1994 British Junior Standard Distance Triathlete, shows us how it’s done.

Get Fit Fast - The Results

Mon, 06 Jun 2011 15:23:00 +0100

It’s the final week of Pauline’s Get Fit Fast challenge. Has she made the grade? The numbers are all increasing but is Pauline happy with the result?

Fast Fitness in Twenty

Sat, 28 May 2011 14:57:00 +0100

This month, we’re all about fast fitness. We’ve challenged our member, Pauline, to get fit in just 20 minutes a day. Now you can try the plan yourself, or follow Pauline’s progress in her video diary. She’s certainly stepped up to the challenge. We’ve given her all sorts to do; from squats and lunges in the park, to running up and down hills, to facing her nemesis, the ViPR™.

Pauline's Diary Week Two

Thu, 26 May 2011 14:31:00 +0100

Can you get fit in just 20 minutes a day? We think so. In the second week of her get fit fast test, our member Pauline is overcoming the challenge of kettle bells and finding that beating her post-work tiredness, is the key to success.

The Challenge of a Lifetime

Tue, 24 May 2011 14:53:00 +0100

You never know where your Virgin Active membership will take you. For Bertie Portal, 43 and James Cash, 34 they’ve decided it’s all the way across the Atlantic Ocean. Although neither of them are oarsmen and James had never rowed before, the prospect of raising £300,000 for charity was too good to miss. The pair are spending every spare hour training at Virgin Active to prepare themselves for the 3,000 mile crossing.

Pauline's Diary Week One

Thu, 19 May 2011 14:31:00 +0100

Can you get fit in just 20 minutes a day? We think so. See Pauline’s first video diary to hear how even after just one week, she’s already feeling firmer and brighter.

Everyone loves a TRY-er

Wed, 18 May 2011 14:28:00 +0100

Thank you to all 2,700 members who took part in the first-ever Virgin Active Indoor TRY-athlon a few weeks ago. The 3-day event was a huge success – drawing people of all shapes and sizes to clubs across the country to take the challenge. And what a result, too!